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IMPROVEMENT IN FRUIT GATHERERS.

c. R. ROBERTS AND J. S. HARTZELL, -oF ADDISON, PENNSYLVANIA. Letters Pamela. 60,249, daad Det-mba 4, 1866. A

SPECIFICATION.

TO ALL WHOM IT MMLCOIICIEIRN:` l

Be it known that we, G. R. ROBERTS and J. S. HARTZELL, of Addison, in the county of Somerset, and State` of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit Harvester; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andcxact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.'

The figure is'a side view of our improved fruit harvester. Our invention has for its object to furnish an improved instrument by means of which apples, pears, peaches, and other fruit may be gathered from the tree rapidly, conveniently, and withoutbruising or injuring the fruit. Andit consists of an improved fruit harvester, formed by the combination and arrangement of a movable jaw, lever, cords, receiving sack, stationary jaw, ring, shank, and socket with each other, as hereinafter 1 more fully described.

A is an oval or round ring,lto the upper part of Whidh is rigidly attached vthe shank B. To the lower end of the shank B is attached'a socket, C, into which the end of the pole or handle D is inserted. E is the upper or stationary loop or jaw, the ends of which are rigidly attached to the sides of the ring A. Fis the movable jaw or loop, the `arms of which are pivoted to the sides of the ring A just below the points at which the ends of the loop or jawJE are attached to said ring. G is the lever, by means of 4which the jaw F is closed to grasp the fruit. The ends of the lever G are attached tothe arms of the movable loop or jaw F, or they may be a continuation of said arms tothe rear of the said ring A. To the lever G, in the rear of theshank B, is attached the end of the cord H, which passes down along the side of the pole or handle D, and is kept in place tby passing through eyes o r staples dl attached to said pole or handle.' Upon the lower part ofthe cord H are formed loops` L, through which thehand may be placed, and the jaw F operated by moving the hand up or ldown along the pole or handle D. The loops or jaws, E and F, are covered with leather, rubber, or some` textile material, and

the space e between the arms of the stationary loop or jawE and the upper part` of the ring A is covered with the same or similar material. The space between the arms of the movable jaw or loop F is covered with a `network, f', of leather, or some textile material, so that the operator may see through the said `net-Work'whether` the fruit is in the proper position within the jaws E and F before pulling iupon the instrument to separate `the said fruit from the tree. I'is a spring extending from the forward end of the loop or jaw F to the lower part of the wing A, which, by its elasticity, holds thefsaid jaw or loop away from the jaw or loop E, except when they are drawn together by operating the cord H. This spring may be an elastic cord or a coiledvwire spring, as may be most convenient. J is the receiving sack, the upper end or mouth of which is attached tothe ring 1 A. K is a cord attached to the end of the sack J, and which passes down along p the poleor handle D, being kept in position by passing through eyes or staples d attached to said pole or handle, and it is secured in any required position by attaching its lower end to a hook dattached to the lower part of said handle l). By means of the cord K the sack J may be adjusted as required by the various` positions of the instrument in gathering the fruit and in depositing it where desired.

We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- An improved fruit harvester, formedby the combination of the movable jaw F, lever G, cords H and K, receiving sack J, stationary jaw E, ring A, shank B, and socket C, when said parts are Vconstructed and arranged substantially as herein shown and described. p

' A CHARLES R. ROBERTS,

JUDSON `S. HARTZELL.

Witnesses:

.r A. MARSHALL Ross, JAMES T. WATSON. 

